Improvement in scale-measures



J. M. GASKINS. Scale-Measure.

No. 220,823. Patented Oct. 21,1879.

fig 5,

N.PETERS. PHOTO LITHOGRAPHE UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES M. GASKINS, OF SHAMOKIN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ON E-HALF OFHIS RIGHT TO WILLIAM H. DOUTY, OF SAME PLACE.

I MPROVEMENT IN SCALE-MEASURES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 220,823, dated October21, 1879; application filed May 8, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES M. GASKINS, of Shamokin, N orthumberlandcounty, Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement inMeasuring Implements, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of the combination of a yard-stick or othermeasuring-rod with a slide, in the manner described hereinafter, so asto-facilitate the accurate measurement of fabrics in-dry-goods stores,&c.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view,illustrating the method of using my improved measuringinstrument; andFigs. 2, 3, 4, and 5,. diagrams illustrating the measuring operation indetail.

The instrument consists of a strip, A, of wood or metal, preferablywood, having a handle, a, separated from the straight portion of thestrip by a collar, b,the end of the'strip beingalso furnished with acollar or ferrule, d. A loose slide, B, is adapted to the strip, the topof the slide having lips a, so thatgits upper face is adapted for thereceptionof'the ball of the thumb.

The collar b and ferrule cl form stops for limiting the movement of theslide B, the distance between the inner edge of the collar and that ofthe ferrule being in excess of the desired measurement to an extentequal to the 'width of the slide.

The mode of measuring fabric with the above-described device is asfollows: The stick A being held in the right hand by means of the handlea, and, the slide B being pressed against the collar b, the front edgeof the strip of fabric a: is brought into line with the front edge ofthe slide, as shown in- Fig. 2. The slide and the fabric are thengrasped between the thumb and fingers of the left hand, as shown in Fig.1, and moved along the stick A until the front edgeof the slide strikesthe ferrule d, as shown in Fig. 3. The fabric is then released, thethumb, however, remaining pressed upon the upper surface of the slide,and the latter is then moved back by said thumb until it again comesinto contact with the collar b, (see Fig. 4,) when the fabric is againseized and carried forward until the slide strikes the ferrule d, andthis operation is re peated as often as desired.

It will be seen that on each forward movement of the slide B in themanner above set forth the length of fabric measured will be exactl yequal to the distance between the inner edge of the ferrule 01 and thefront edge of the slide when the latter is in contact with the collar12, there being no surplusage, as in measuring with an ordinaryyard-stick, in which case the thickness of the thumb is alwaysadded tothe proper measurement on each new adjustment of the yardstick.Moreover, the use of the slide B materially facilitates the operation ofmeasuring.

Instead of using a slide embracing the yardstick, a simple plate havinga pin adapted to a slot in the stick might be used, the slide B beingpreferred, however, as it does not necessitate the weakening of thestick by slotting the same.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination of a yard-stick or othermeasuring-rod, A, having a handle, a, and. stops b and d with the slide13, adapted to the stick, all substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a yard-stick or other measuring-rod, A, with aslide, B, having lugs i,-as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES M. GASKINS,

